Which device uses hints that suggest future events and creates suspense?

• A. Imagery
• B. Irony
• C. Metaphor
• D. Foreshadowing

Answer: (D)

Foreshadowing is a technique where hints or clues are dropped about what will happen later in the story, building anticipation and suspense for future events. These hints can appear as a foreboding remark, a symbol that recurs, or a small detail that seems insignificant at first but points toward something to come. This keeps readers engaged, wondering how and when the hinted event will unfold.

Imagery, by contrast, uses vivid sensory details to create a scene or mood but doesn’t necessarily point toward future events. Irony involves a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, often highlighting outcomes that are surprising or opposite to expectations, but not specifically about hinting at future events. A metaphor is a direct comparison between two things and is a figure of speech, not a tool for signaling what’s to come.

Because foreshadowing intentionally signals future developments to heighten suspense, it’s the device that best fits the description. For example, a character’s vague warning about a looming danger or a recurring omen can prepare the reader for a tense moment later in the plot.